He later blamed media for manipulating his words and suggested that journalists indulging in such activities be sent to mental hospitals for treatment

Ghaziabad: Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs General (Retd.) V K Singh courted controversy yesterday by reacting to the Dalit killings in Faridabad by saying that it had become customary for the Centre to be blamed for everything negative that happened in the country.

MoS for External Affairs General (Retd.) V K Singh. File pic

“This incident has nothing to do with the Central government. This is the failure of the state government. If someone throws stones at a dog, the government is not responsible,” Singh said.

The statement drew major flak from all quarters of the society and the Congress has now demanded his resignation and a case be slapped against him under Prevention of Atrocities on Scheduled Caste Act Section 3 and 4.

“Statement passed by V K Singh is demeaning, disparaging and insulting. The inhumane remarks about our Dalit brothers and sisters are derogatory, condemnable and reprehensible. It reflects the anti-Dalit mindset of the Modi government and his ministers,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.

Soon after receiving the flak, Singh went into a damage control mode and criticised the media for manipulating and misreporting his statement made at an event he attended in Ghaziabad. He suggested that media persons indulging in such activity should be sent to mental hospitals for treatment.

“Hamare yehan log har cheez ko tool dete hain (People exaggerate things in our country). For example, if I hit a dog, then, they will manipulate and give a different meaning to it.

Now, if you relate this statement with previous statements and say that the general compared Dalits to ‘dogs’, it’s a shame on such journalists for manipulating the statement. That journalist should leave his job and should be admitted in Agra for treatment,” Singh told media persons.

3 accused nabbed, 4 still absconding

Faridabad: Three more persons have been arrested for their alleged role in setting the house of a Dalit family ablaze, taking the total number of arrests in the case to seven while the remaining four are still at large.

Commissioner of Police Subhash Yadav said, “Seven accused out of the eleven, named by the family, have been arrested so far. We are hopeful to nab other culprits soon.”